Container



May 20, 1969 J. GOLDMAN CONTAINER Sheet 0:2

Filed Jan. 4. 1968 INVENTOR.

GS'EP/l M441 v A T-RDPA/EV y 20, 1969 J. GOLDMAN 3,445,051

I CONTAINER Filed Jan. 4. 1968 7 Sheet 3 of 2 INVENTOR- cfoszm/ 66160414United States Patent US. Cl. 229-14 Ciaims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREThis invention relates to a container for fragile mate rials formed fromtwo transversely disposed foldable panels. The two panels provide thecontainer base, side walls and cover with a minimum of material waste. Alayer of resilient material is secured to the inner side of the innerpanel to serve as a protective cushion in contact with the fragilearticle contained therein.

Related application This application is a continuation-in-part of mycopending application entitled, Container, filed July 21, 1967, andassigned Ser. No. 655,051, now abandoned.

Background of the invention The invention pertains to the art ofpackaging fragile articles for shipment and storage.

In the prior art, container blanks have customarily been formed in onepiece by stamping from sheet material. A carbon blank which is notsubstantially rectangular in its overall configuration, when stampedfrom sheet material, results in a significant quantity of wastedmaterial. The concave perimeter portions of the container blank usuallylead to waste material even though adjacent carton blanks can be offsetor nested with respect to one another to minimize the waste. Thus,notches, indentations and recesses in the perimeter of carton blanksrepresent waste material since the carton blank cannot be stamped fromsheet material in a manner which allows complete utilization of thesheet material.

While the container blank which comprises the present invention is notrectangular in its overall configuration (because it is formed withsubstantial concave or indented areas at the four corners thereof), itmay be formed with a minimum of wasted material. More particularly,since the container blank which comprises the present invention consistsof two generally-rectangular, transverselydisposed panels, no largeconcave or indented area must be stamped from sheet material. Each ofthe panels is individually stamped and, since the individual panels aresubstantially rectangular in configuration, very little waste materialresults.

Irregularly shaped container blanks of the prior art which are stampedfrom a single sheet of corrugated stock result in a carton blank whichhas all of its corrugations running in one direction when the blank liesin a single plane. Consequently, when the carton blank is folded to forma carton, corrugations in the vertical walls of the finished cartongenerally run vertically in one pair of opposite walls and horizontallyin the other pair. The pair having horizontal corrugations is generallyweaker Patented May 20, 1969 in compression than the pair havingvertical corrugations. The present invention insures that all verticalside walls have vertically running corrugations and eliminate the weakerpair of side walls.

In the prior art, irregularly shaped carton blanks have generally lackedany features which eliminate or minimize the space required for shippingand storage. Thus, while irregularly shaped blanks may be stacked andnested to a degree, to thereby efliciently use available storage space,the irregular shape of the carton blank inevitably results in somewasted space in shipping and storing. The present invention includes afeature which provides for pivoting one panel with respect to the otherimmediately prior to forming the carton. Consequently, storage andshipment, can be accomplished with the carton blank in a compacted form,with one panel lying directly over the other panel, to thereby eliminateindented or concave portions at the four corners of the panel.

In addition, in the prior art various particulate, shredded or crumpledmaterial has been provided to serve as a cushion or filler in thepackaging of fragile articles. Typically the filler material has beenplaced into the container after the container has been formed and afterthe article has been placed therein. Examples of such packing materialinclude excelsior, paper strips, beaded material, and crumpled paper.Padding in sheet form has also been proposed. In each case the packingmaterial has not been secured to the container and consequently thepacking material must be placed into the container after the containeris formed and the article placed therein.

The prior art, accordingly, has required a distinct step, after theformation of the container from the container blank, devoted to theplacement of the protective packing material. The present inventioneliminates that step. Moreover, the present invention eliminates thetendency of the packaged article to shift within the packing materialsince the packing material of the present invention is secured to thewalls of the carton.

Summary of the invention The invention pertains to a container blankformed from two transversely disposed panels with a layer of resilientmaterial secured to the inner surface of the inner panel. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to a container blank comprising afirst panel having an upper and lower surface, a second panel having anupper and lower surface disposed transversely to the first panel with aportion of the lower surface of the second panel in engagement with aportion of the upper surface of the first panel to thereby define a baseportion of each of the panels. The first panel extends transverselybeyond the opposite longitudinal edges of the second panel and thesecond panel extends transversely beyond the opposite longitudinal edgesof the first panel. Both the first and second panels are provided with afirst and second fold line coinciding with the transverse edges of thebase portion of each panel. The second panel is also provided with thirdand fourth fold lines spaced outwardly an equal distance from the firstand second fold lines, respectively, of the second panel, to therebydefine a first and second wall portion between the first and third andsecond and fourth fold lines, respectively, of the second panel. Thethird and fourth fold lines of the second panel also define a first andsecond cover portion disposed outwardly from the third and fourth linesrespectively. The first and second wall portions of the second panel areformed with a width, in the transverse direction, greater than.thedistance between the first and second fold lines of the first panel tothereby provide wing portions integrally with the first and second wallportions. A relatively thick layer of resilient material is secured tothe entire upper surface of the second panel to serve as a cushion orprotective means for the packaged article.

The side walls of the first panel, as noted above, are of such a widththat the edges thereof extend outwardly beyond the plane defined by theside walls of the second panel so that each of the side walls of thesecond panel is positioned between the adjacent extended edges of theside walls of the first panel. This arrangement greatly increases therigidity of the container and it prevents the container from beingdeformed by external forces from its regular shape as a rightparallelepiped to an oblique parallelepiped. The contents of thecontainer are thus protected against being squashed.

Both the first and second panels are stamped from corrugated materialwith the corrugations running longitudinally of the panels.

The invention also includes a feature which leads to etficientutilization of space in shipment and storage. The first panel may bepivotally mounted to the second panel so that in shipment and storage,before formation of the container, the container blank can be positionedwith the first panel directly beneath the second panel so that it doesnot extend transversely to the second panel.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide acontainer blank of the configuration shown wherein a minimum of materialis wasted in the formation of the blank from sheet material.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a containerblank having a layer of resilient material secured to the inner surfacefrom one of two transversely disposed rectangular panels to therebyeliminate the need for placement of packing material after formation ofthe container from the container blank.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a containerblank of the configuration shown wherein the side walls of one of thepanels extend outwardly beyond the plane defined by the side walls ofthe other panel so that the side walls of the other panel are positionedbetween the adjacent extended edges of the side walls of the one panel,to thereby prevent collapsing of the container when subjected toexternal forces.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a containerblank of the configuration shown wherein the side walls of one of thepanels extend outwardly beyond the plane defined by the side walls ofthe other panel so that the side walls of the other panel are positionedbetween the adjacent extended edges of the side walls of the one paneland wherein each of said panels is formed of corrugated sheet materialhaving corrugations running longitudinally, to thereby providesubstantial strength and rigidity to prevent collapsing of the containerwhen subjected to external forces.

And finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide acontainer blank of the configuration shown wherein one of the panels ispivotally mounted to the other panel to thereby allow positioning of thetwo panels with one directly above the other, for shipment and storage,and to allow pivoting of the one panel with respect to the other toposition one panel transversely to the other, to thereby provide acontainer blank of the configuration shown.

Description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of thecontainer blank which comprises the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the closed container;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the container blank with a portion ofthe resilient cushioning material removed to show a second embodiment ofthe invention, wherein the first panel is pivotally mounted to thesecond panel; and

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE4 with the carton blank in its closed position to thereby form a carbon.

Description of the preferred embodiment The container which comprisesthe present invention may be best understood with reference first toFIG- URE 1. It includes a first panel 11, a second panel 12 and a layerof resilient material 36. Both panel 11 and panel 12 are formed offoldable rigid sheet material such as corrugated box board. Panels 11and 12 are generally rectangular in configuration and are placedtransversely with respect to each other with the upper surface of firstpanel 11 in engagement with the lower surface of second panel 12. Itshould be noted that first panel 11 extends beyond the side edges 13 ofsecond panel 12 and that second panel 12 extends beyond the side edges14 of first panel 11.

With reference to FIGURES l, 2 and 3, first panel 11 is provided with afirst fold 15 and a second fold 16 which register respectively withopposite edges 13 of second panel 12. Thus, the base portion of firstpanel 11 is defined =by edges 14, first fold 15 and second fold 16.

Third fold 17 and fourth fold 18 are also provided in first panel 11.Third fold 17 and fourth fold 18 are spaced an equal distance outwardlyfrom first and second fold lines 15 and 16, respectively, to therebydefine Wall portions 19 and 20 of first panel 11. The remainder of firstpanel '11 consists of cover portions 21 and 22 disposed outwardly fromfold lines 17 and 18 respectively.

Second panel 12 includes first fold line 25 and second fold line 26which are respectively in registration with opposite edges 14 of firstpanel 1'1. Thus, first fold line 25 and second fold line 26, along withopposite edges 13, define the base portion of panel 12.

Second panel 12 is also provided with a third fold line 28 and a fourthfold line 29. Fold lines 28 and 29 are spaced an equal distanceoutwardly from first and second fold lines 25 and 26 of second panel 12,to thereby define wall portions 30 and 31. The remaining portion ofsecond panel 12 consists of cover portions 32 and 33 disposed,respectively, outwardly from third fold line 28 and fourth fold line 29.

Wall portions 30 and 31 of second panel 12 have a width, in thetransverse direction, that is greater than the distance between firstfold line 15 and second fold 16 of first panel 11. Thus, with referenceto FIGURES l and 2, wall portions 30 and 31 of second panel 12 includeintegrally formed wing portions 34 and 35, respectively, which lendrigidity to the container. As best seen in FIGURE 2, wing portions 34and 35 engage the side edges 14 of first panel 11 and prevent wallportions 30 and 31 of second panel 12 from collapsing inwardly after thecontainer is formed.

The upper surface of second panel 12 is uniformly covered with aconvoluted or undulating layer of resilient material 36. In thepreferred embodiment, resilient material 36 is formed of polyurethanefoam and is molded with a series of projections which engage thepackaged article after the container is formed to prevent shifting anddamage. Resilient material 36 is secured to the upper surface of secondpanel 12 and extends over the entire surface thereof except for wingportions 34 and 35. Resilient material 36 may be formed of a widevariety of substances, the primary consideration being resiliency andweight. The configuration of the exposed surface of resilient material36 which engages the packaged article may also vary considerably fromthe convoluted and undulating configuration shown.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGURES 1-3,

first panel 11 is secured to second panel 12 by means of a suitableadhesive placed at the interface thereof. The embodiment shown inFIGURES 4 and 5 differs, however, in that first panel 11 is pivotallymounted to second panel 12. With reference to FIGURES 4 and 5, a rivetor grommet 40 is provided to pivotally mount first panel 11 to secondpanel 12. Consequently, second panel 12 may be pivoted with respect tofirst panel 11 as shown at arrows B in FIGURE 4. In storage and shipmentthe container blank may be positioned with first panel lldirectly abovefirst panel 12 as shown in solid lines in FIGURE 4. When ready for use,second panel 12 may be pivoted with respect to panel 11 as shown atarrows B, to thereby take the position shown in phantom in FIGURE 4.Thus, first panel 11 and second panel 12 may be positioned with respectto each other to eliminate the irregularity in the shape of the cartonblank. Significant space can consequently be saved in shipment andstorage.

It should be noted that third and fourth fold lines 17 and 18 of firstpanel 11 are spaced an equal distance from first and second fold linesand 16, respectively. Third and fourth fold lines 28 and 29 are alsospaced'an equal distance from first and second fold lines 25 and 26,respectively, of second panel 12, and that distance is equal to thecorresponding distance of first panel 11. Therefore, wall portions 19and 20 of first panel 11 and wall portions 30 and 31 of second panel 12are formed with an equal longitudinal dimension or height.

It should also be noted that the sum of the distances from third andfourth fold lines 2-8 and 29 to the respec tive opposite ends of secondpanel 12 is equal to the distance between first and second fold lines 15and 16 of second panel 12. In other words, the sum of the longitudinaldimensions of the cover portions 32 and 33 of second panel 12 is equalto the longitudinal dimension of the base portion of second panel 12,which extends from first fold line 15 to second fold line 16.

While first panel 11 is shown with two cover portions 21 and 22, itshould be recognized that first panel 11 could be formed with but onecover portion. That is, cover portion 21, for example, could be formedwith a longitudinal dimension equal to the distance between first foldline 15 and second fold line 16 of first panel 11. If so formed, thefirst panel 11 would include but three fold lines and would not includea fourth fold line. i

The use of the present invention may be readily understood withreference first to FIGURE 1. The container blank is formed as shown inFIGURE 1 and first panel 11 and second panel 12 are folded upwardly onfirst and second fold lines 15 and 16 (panel 11) and on first and secondfold lines 25 and 26 (panel 12). The packaged article, A, is placed intothe partially formed container and cover portions 32 and 33 of secondpanel 12 are folded downwardly about third and fourth fold lines 28 and29 to thereby complete the circumferential engagement of article, A, byresilient material 36. Cover portions 21 and 22 of first panel 11 arethen folded downwardly about third and fourth fold lines 17 and 18,respectively. Retaining means 38, which in the preferred embodimentconsists of an adhesive tape, is then placed over the joint betweencover portions 21 and 22, adhered thereto, and adhered to wall portions30 and 31 of second panel 12 (see FIGURE 3).

The use of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGURES 4and 5 may be readily understood with reference first to FIGURE 4. Thecontainer blank is formed as shown in FIGURE 4 with first panel 11disposed directly above second panel 12 with grommet pivotallyconnecting one panel to the other. Second panel 12 is pivoted withrespect to first panel 11 as shown at arrows, B, in FIGURE 4 and the twopanels are then folded in the manner described above in connection withthe embodiment shown in FIGURES 1-3. The final form of the carton isshown in FIGURE 5 and is identical with the form shown in FIGURE 3except that first and second panels 11 and 12 are joined by grommet 40instead of adhesive.

The container thus formed provides a protective package 'for article, A,with a minimum of packaging steps and with a minimum of material wastein the formation of the container blank. Moreover, wing portions 34 and35 provide rigidity to prevent inward collapse of wall portions 30 and31 of second panel 12. The generally rectangular configuration of firstpanel 11 and a second panel 12 eliminates waste in the formation thereoffrom sheet material and the transverse relationship between first panel11 and second panel 12 provides a reinforced base portion for thecontainer. The fact that first and second panels 11 and 12 are stampedfrom corrugated sheet material with the corrugations runninglongitudinally, provides a reinforced base and cover portion of thefinished carton as well as side walls which have vertical corrugations.The side walls are consequently of substantial rigidity and strength.And finally the container shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 may be stored in oneposition and prepared for assembly in another position, to therebyinsure efficient utilization of space in shipping and storage of thecontainer blank.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment shown without departingfrom the scope of the present invention which is to be limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A container blank for use in packaging fragile articles, comprising:

a first panel formed from foldable rigid sheet material and having anupper and a lower surface;

a second panel formed from foldable rigid sheet material and having anupper and a lower surface disposed transversely to said first panel witha portion of the lower surface of said second panel in engagement with aportion of the upper surface of said first panel to thereby define abase portion of each of said panels, said first panel extendingtransversely beyond opposite edges of said base portion of said secondpanel and said second panel extending transversely beyond opposite edgesof said base portion of said first panel;

first and second fold lines on said first panel in registration,respectively, with the longitudinal edges of said second panel;

first and second fold lines on said second panel in registration,respectively, -with the longitudinal edges of said first panel;

third and fourth fold lines on said second panel respectively spacedoutwardly an equal distance from said first and second fold lines ofsaid second panel, to thereby define a first and second wall portionbetween said first and third and said second and fourth fold lines,respectively, of said second panel and a first and second cover portionoutwardly from said third and fourth fold lines, respectively;

said first and second wall portions having a width, in

the transverse direction, greater than the distance between said firstand second fold lines of said first panel; and

a relatively thick layer of resilient material secured to the uppersurface of said second panel.

2. The container blank of claim 1 wherein said first panel is pivotallysecured to said second panel at a point centrally located on said baseportion of each of said panels.

3. The container blank of claim 2 and a third and fourth fold line onsaid first panel respectively spaEd outwardly an equal distance fromsaid first and second fold lines of said first panel, to thereby definea first and second wall portion between said first and third and said 7second and fourth fold lines, respectively, of said first panel and afirst and second cover portion outwardly from said third and fourth foldlines, respectively, of said first panel.

4. The container blank of claim 3 wherein the sum of 5 the distancesfrom said third and said fourth fold lines, respectively, to theopposite ends of said first panel is equal to the distance between saidfirst and said second fold lines of said first panel.

5. The container blank of claim 4 wherein the exposed surface of saidresilient material defines a series of uniformly spaced projections.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,009,564 7/ 1935 Ridge.3,266,705 8/ 1966 Wood.

FOREIGN PATENTS 131,928 9/ 1919 Great Britain. 1,152,051 7/ 1963Germany.

10 JAMES B. MARBERT, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 21735; 229-23

